Sofa bed



B. CASTRO SOFA BED March 15, l1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1957R. m W W.

2.928.106. SOFA BED v Bernard Castro, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

` Application January 11', 19757, Serial No. `633,554

1 Claim- (Cl- 51-51),

This nvention relates to an improvement in convertible beds of thegeneral kind illustrated and described invthe co-pending application|for-U.S. Letters Patent Serial No. 412,173, filed March 29, 195,4, nowPatent No. 27,829,3 81. I Inn sofa beds Wherein a bed mechanism isadapted to be folded into and unfolded from a stationary frame, onefroublesome problem has beenhow tol guard or cover cerrain parts of` thebed mechanism so that a person using the mechanism won't cut himself orhis clothing or cut, tear or rip the bed mattress or-sofa cushions. Qnepart of this problem has been successfully solved in a 'second copendingapplication for U.S. Letters Patent Serial No. 562,148, filed January30, 195,6, nowv Patent No. 2,818,- 584 in which a simple yet veryefficient arrangement is illustrated'iand 'described for keeping themattress and bed linens of a sofa-bed from being cut or torn when thebed is being folded and unfolded.

There remained, however, in sofa beds of this kind the danger andannoyance of sharp, pointed ends of the bed mechanism, particularlythose ends which are in front and hence most prominent when the bed isunfolded and in sleeping position. In a bed mechanism using the improvedlock shown in the first co-pending application Serial No. 419,173, nowPatent No. 2,829,381, identified above, this problem is accentuatedbecause the front end of the lock mechanism has thin narrow memberswhich project outwardly therefrom. Since these projecting members aresomewhat born-like, they sometimes unfortunately lead to a bruised shinfor an unwary person who misjudges his distance. They also sometimesgore the back seat cushion of the sofa when the mechanism is being verycarelessly folded to form a sofa. Furthermore, the projecting membersare apt to score or other- Wise mar other pieces of furniture which theymay strike accidentally When the bed is being opened. The presentnvention seeks to overcome these diiculties.

In accordance With the present nvention the outermost corners of a bedmechanism when in unfolded position are provided with rotatable rubberguards, preferably in the form of small rubber Wheels, and so positionedthat a person brushing against one of these corners is protected fromhurting himself or tearing his clothing by the rounded shape of theguard and its ability to rotate. Thus, instead of being impaled by asharp point the person is gently rolled past the corner of the bed. Inconjunction with these rotating guard Wheels there is also provided,according to the nvention, a tube-like bar t which extends between theWheels at approximately the same level. This bat' not only acts to bracethe Wheels and the side members of the bed mechanism but alsocomplements the guard members in preventng the front end of the bed fromgoring the back cushion of the sofa as may occasionally happen when thebed is folded in hasty'or careless manner.

A better understanding of the nvention together with a fullerappreciation of its many advantages will best be gained from a study ofthe following description given in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

United States Patent 2 Eigul'e. 1 is a perspective view of a sofa bedembodying Zthe featuresof the present nvention and showing the mechanismunfolded to form a bed; r

- lFigure lis a slightlyV enlarged'view of the bedV shown in Figure 1.and showing it-.in partly folded position;

Figure 3'` 'is an enlarged view of the front end of the bed taken asviewed from line 3-3 in vFigure 1 and showing the position of the guardWheels;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view .ofy one ofthe Wheels as viewed from llinel474' in Figure 3; and

Figure 5.. is a view of the Wheel as vwd from line S-S'in Figure 4.

Figure. 1V shw a, Sofa-bed 10, in vnfolded Position- The 'ifoldinsmechanism for thisbed can be senerally like that shown n co-pendingapplication Sferial No. 419,173, identified above. Bed 10 includes astationary frame 11 and the folding mechanism, generally indicated at.12.' Mechanism 12 includes an inner section 15 pivotedl to the frame`11,, an intermediate section 17 pivoted to section 15, a connecting,section 19 pivoted to section 21'7,V and an'end'section 21 pivoted tosection 19. As will bev understoodfrorn Figure 2,l end section 21 isadapted to fold back over intermediate section 17v lto provide the, seatof a sofa` on which removable cushion's, not shown, may be placed. Thesecushions, in con- Jun'ciin with the' Permanent back cushion. 22 fixed tothe Vertical portion of frame 11 comprise the seating and supperfiligur-aqes iq? Safe 10, i A Sheft-like.` member 24,' las seen in Figure 2overlies end section 21 and serves to protect the bed mattress26, foldeddouble between lthe bed sections and seenlbest in Figure 1, from dirtand dust. Member 24 is resiliently fastened along its for- Ward end asviewed in Figure 2 closely adjacent the movable frontboard 28 in themanner described in U.S. Patent 2,752,613. The other end of member 24 isfastened to the free end of the bed in a manner to be described.

Referring to Figure 1, two lock members, generally indicated at 3d, aremounted on the respective front Corners of end section 21 and projectforwardly therefrom. These projecting lock members 30 may present ahazard to the shins orl clothing of a person Who misjudges hispositionand Will mar any other piece of furnitnre that they mayaccidentally strike when the bed is being unfolded.

In accordance with the present nvention a guard wheel 32 is rotatablymounted on each respective lock member 30 and overlies the member tominmize the danger of injury to. the person or articles of furniture.Thus, a person or an article of furniture brushing against the Wheels 32at either front corner of the bedis protected from injury.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the free end of bed secton 21, when the bedis partly folded, is pointed toward back cushion 22. Lock members 30 atthe free end of the bed section 21 are adapted to engage portions of theheadboard member 33 and tosqueeze bed section 21 toward section 17 Withmattress 26 folded between. When the bed is completely folded thesemembers 30 and 33 Will hold the bed Sections folded until it is desiredto unfold them.

As members 30 are horn-lik'e .extensions which project beyond section21, they might gore back cushion 22 if the bed Were carelessly folded.Such damage is prevented by virtue of another feature of the nvention.This feature of the nvention comprises a bar 34 in the form of a roundtube, see Figures 1 and 3, which is mounted on and extends between thelock members 30. Bar 34; is covered by the end of Sheet-like member 24which is wrapped partly around it and is attached to the spring supportfor the mattress. This construction provides in effect a padded frontbumper.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, each wheel 32 is Pafnted, Mar.V 15.,V 191.60,V

' asaanoe rotatably mounted at 36 on an angularly bent plate 38 which,in turn, is fastened to a respective side rail 40 of the end bed section21. Each plate 38 has the bent down portions 42 which carry between themthe rotatably mounted roller's 44- of the lock members 30. These rollerscooperate with headboard'member 33 in the general way described inapplication Serial No. 419,173, now Patent No. 2,829,381, identifiedabove. Each end of tube 34 is fiattened at 46 and is fastened at 48 to arespective plate 38.

Wheels 3'2 can be made of soft rubber approximately two inches indiameter and one-half inch in thickness. The relative size and shape ofthe other elements show in Figures 4 and 5 can be exactly as shown.

The above description of the invention is intended' in illustration andnot in limitation thereof, Various changes may occur to those skilled inthe art and these may be made without d'zparting from the spirit orscope of the invention as set forth.

I claim:- i

A convertible sofa-bed of the Character described comprising: inner,intermediate, connecting, and end bedsections serially pivoted to eachother, a statonary furniture frame, said inner and intermediate Sectionsbeing pivoted thereto, a bed mattress adapted to lie horizontally uponsaid Sections when open and when said bed is closed to be folded doublebetween said end and said intermediate sections with said end sectionhorizontally above said intermediate section, a back cushion and twoupholstered side arms fixed to said frame, a headboard member fixed tosaid inner section at right angles thereto, two roller-lockbrackets'each fixed onV and projecting from respective front corners ofsaid end section and adapted to bear upward against said headboardmember to hold said Sections folded over when said bed is closed, andtwo guard members each fastened to respective ones of said brackets,each guard member comprising a small wheel rotatably mounted on a pin onits corresponding bracket with the rim of said wheel projecting slightlybeyond the front and the side of said bracket, the end of said bracketwhen said bed is open being inclined slightly upward and forward withsaid wheel closely parailel and with said pin extending upward and back-Ward, Whereby when said bed is unfolded, a person is protected by saidWheels from hurting himself against said projecting brackets, and whensaid bed is being folded said back cushion and upholstered side arms areprotected by said Wheels which are adapted to roll down- Ward andbackward in contact with said arms and to bump against said backcushion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS215,040 Bostwick eteal. May 6, 1879 609,380 Yeager Aug. 16, 18981,669,165 Jarvis et al. May 8, 1928 2,352,989 Woller July 4, 19442,749,559 Petersen June 12, 1956 2,752,613 Castro et al. --.July 3, 19562,769,989 Woodford Nov. 13, 1,956 2,829,38l Lenart Apr. 8, 1958 FOREIGNPATENTS 231,404 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1925

